Govt Vows No Electricity Tariff Hike until 2019

The government is committed to maintain the current electricity tariff until 2019, as a move to maintain price stability, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Ignasius Jonan said on Thursday (Feb 22). He made the statement in response to concerns among business players and the general public that a spike in global crude and coal prices would eventually force the government to pass on the extra expense and raise the electricity tariff.

Minister Jonan said that the decision was not politically motivated, instead aiming at husbanding the public’s delicate purchasing power. The decision is in line with the government’s target to maintain a low inflation rate environment.